Southwest Rescue Dogs, Inc, is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501(c)(3) K-9 search and rescue organization based in Tucson, Arizona, that serves as a resource for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. SRDI uses highly trained personnel and search dogs to find lost or injured people in inaccessible desert and mountain areas. All field teams consist of a dog, the dog's handler/owner, and an assist who is responsible for radio communications and various other tasks. Handler-dog pairs must pass rigorous certification tests in each discipline before becoming Mission Ready in that area.
All SRDI members are required to go through extensive training in radio communications, medical, crime scene preservation, biohazard handling, map, compass, GPS, helicopter procedures, knots, and a basic understanding of technical skills, particularly ascending and descending. Members must earn certification in Outdoor Emergency Care through the National Ski Patrol, as well as CPR certification.
Members of SRDI train their own dogs with guidance from our Training Chairman and assistance from others on the team. Dogs must be between the ages of six months and seven years old to begin training, while handlers must be at least eighteen years of age to become certified as Mission Ready. All dogs must pass a basic obedience test and, if working in an off-lead discipline (Air Scent, Evidence, or Cadaver), must pass an advanced obedience test. It takes countless hours and cooperation from every member of the team to train the dogs.
SRDI works in close cooperation with other Search and Rescue Council, Inc., teams, including: Southern Arizona Rescue Association, Pima County Sheriff's Mounted Posse, Civil Air Patrol (Neotoma Composite Squadron), and Pima County Search and Recovery Divers. Our primary county is Pima but we have been called to assist other counties in Arizona and have been utilized by local and federal agencies.
Website created by Kim Leeder